The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-10-01
IFor the Asheyine CITIZEN
AMID THE GORGES OF BLACK
MOUNTAIN.

AMID THE GORGES OF BLACK
MOUNTAIN.
Only last week when twilight was past
and when supper had been eaten, q little
party of four ladies sat Indian fashion
close to a sulky balsam fire, that was
trying hard not to buru amid the puff$
of.wind that blew under the great Ehelv-
ing rock on the east summit of Mitchell.
They listened eagerly to the monotone
of their guide, as he told them in
sepulchral accents the sad fate of Prof
Mitchell. Twenty six years ago? why
the narrowing tale seemed fresh as yes
terday! We could imagine we heard the
restless feet of six hundred mountaineers,
that scalded the rugged wildness of every
gorge and mountain defile. We could
marvel on the onderful stiffness broke en-
by the hard clods falling in that lonely
grave that rests so much nearer to
Heaven, than perhaps many of MS shall
ever be- "Oh Mr.. Glass we burst forth
in a breath, you mutt guide us to the
very rock where the accident occurred;
we cannot rest uutil our eyes have "azed
upon I'll" Mr. Glass who had been
STOPPING over the fire raised is gaunt
muscular form and eyed US eyes sved US
as an elephant might have eyed four
small mice that proposed carrying a
caravan upon their backs. 81 adies," he
said. and his voice sounded solemn with
warning, II would advise you'uns to
halt agen you aire. Thar amt no trail to
you spot, it be p0w'ful steep
rough, thar be danger l took one
han thar now four years gone, how he
sWore pow'ful; he said man war a
- fool to come to sech q place, he
would ha' given fifty dollars to be home
agen." This speech would have intimi-
dated the majority of persons, bnt with
US only served to add to our deterimina-
ton to risk the expedition at all hazards.
If the tongue of one woman has been
said to oveipower a man, it can be under.
stood that the combined efforts of four
could have led Mr.. Glass without dif-
iculty even down the crater of Popocate-
petl. Dreamy sleep on balsam branches
was disturbed at dawn by futtering snow
birds pecking crumbs of bread around US:
they were so innocent that we forgave
their rudeness in awaking us. The sun
rise was concealed by dense mist, and
Mr.. Glass almost took heart of grace that
the dare devil project would have to be
abandoned, but no such comfort for him !!
The sky was soon exquisitely clear, and
we started forth on this heller skelter
journey. First VIC went down, down,
down, on the western side of the noun
tain until we reached "Big Tom Will.
sons" trail Big Tom Wilson must have
employed a rampaging catamount 70
have scratched out this path: it is scarcely
more than a foot wide, and one mass of
roots, and jagged rocks. Insoient bushes
slap you in the face at every step. After
two miles f this kind of tumble, Mr..
Glass suddenly SHE'D off to the right in
trackless wild. The balsam trees here
grow to an immense height No ray of
sunlight enters to dissipate the moulder-
ing gloom. Soft green moss covers the
fallen trees spreads over dark holes be-
tween the rocks, and makes the foothold
most deceptive. l jumped upon a log,
and to my horror sunk through the
mould almost to my waist. There were
frequent screams from our party as they
would topple over int deep holes, and
have to be priced out by Mr.. Glass. Ey-
cry large tree had 20 be plaEed aS We
passed along, for even the practised eye
of the mountain hunter could not detect
our foot marks. Sometimes we had to
crawl on all fours through laurel thickets,
sometimes path had to be hewn with
the axe. Then we would go down a
precioic hanging on tooth and nail to
small roots and branches, and tumbling
and sliding to the bottom, where our
most attentive guide would stand with
uplifted arms, to catch. us one by one,
and prevent our bones. from crumbing on
the hard rocks. After what appeared
miles of scrambling the awe struck
whisper of MIR. Glass stopped us. Thar
it is :" and he pointed his long inger to
a huge rock to ou1 right. Thar, over
yon steep rock, is whar the poor old
man, q the blaokness of night, fell and
lost his life" We crept there, and look
ed aghast upon the scene. The water
that cnce poured in a torrent over the
rock sixteen feet above our heads, had
long since in the mutabilitv of Nature
changed its course. The pol in which
the Professors mangled body was found,
is now downy bed of moss. We spoke
in awesome whispers, and shivered as
the hoarso croak of raven Jared upon
our ears. The sun never CLEANS upon
the dark place, the silence of death
reigns supreme. A damp chill penetrated
to the hearts and we're as if the icy fingers
of death were threatening us. We were
glad to leave this desolation, to climb
once more up to the sunshine away from
this uncanny haunt, and to feel that this
visit is stored away with some of the sad
memories of our past. Fl. Nd. L.